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Samsung has unveiled the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Education, a tablet built exclusively for education to inspire students to work better, faster and smarter.
In today’s tech-savvy world, most people travel with a smartphone or tablet at the very least. When it comes to vacationing with your family, having a handy bunch of apps to use can make a vacation much less stressful, and more fun. There are thousands of apps on the market that help to make travel easier.
Panasonic has launched the LUMIX GF7, a compact and light LUMIX G interchangeable lens camera that will give you stunning image quality to allow you to truly express your unique style.
Nikon has announced an expansion to its popular Coolpix compact camera range with three new additions: the social Coolpix S3700 with built-in Wi-Fi and NFC support for easy sharing, the stylish 20-megapixel Coolpix S2900 with a carry-anywhere slimline body, plus the simple-to-use camera that gives great results, the 16-megapixel Coolpix L31.
Vivofit 2 is the latest addition to the Garmin vivo line of daily activity trackers. vivofit 2 adds new features to the company’s popular daily activity tracker that help users stay active and develop healthy habits.
Often you arrive at your office, at home, in a meeting, or somewhere else and find it difficult to reach for a nearby available power outlet to charge your notebook or smart phone.
The Tyre Safety Companion, a new smart phone app from tyre safety group TyreSafe, is set to help even more drivers stay safe on the road in 2015 after being named as one of the best motoring apps for 2015 by leading motoring magazine Auto Express.
Garmin has announced the all new GPS sport watch, Fenix 3 for demanding athletes and outdoor adventurers.
EE, the UK’s largest mobile operator, added a record 5.7million customers to the 4G network in 2014, with 1.7 million in the last two months alone.
Canon announces the Connect Station CS100, a unique photo-storage device that allows you to quickly and easily save, view and share your photos and movies, all from one single accessible location.
Apple has announced that the first week of January set a new record for billings from the App Store with customers around the world spending nearly half a billion dollars on apps and in-app purchases, and New Year’s Day 2015 marked the single biggest day ever in App Store sales history.
A New Year usually brings new resolutions, and getting in shape is often on the list. In general, people exercise because they have to—not because they want to.
Sony’s legendary Walkman family gains a new flagship that’s specially made for serious music lovers.
Samsung has unveiled the new Galaxy A7, one of the slimmest Galaxy smartphones equipped with premium hardware for a superior social experience.
Canon has unveiled seven new additions to its PowerShot and IXUS camera ranges. Designed to provide the perfect solution whatever you’re shooting, whether it’s close up or from a distance with the three new superzoom PowerShots, on a night out with one of three new compact IXUS cameras, or being creative with the new PowerShot N2.
46 to 60 of 1653 for Personal Tech


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Internet shares fly but instability stays
WHEN US investors get excited, there is no stopping them. Their latest craze is for Internet shares. Giants such as Yahoo! lead the way, but the fever is spreading to the most obscure stocks.
Infonautics, a tiny company that develops online data, has soared from $1.50 two weeks ago to over $7.
Now valued at £40m, it has annual sales of £4m and lost £11m.
Yahoo! does actually make money - just. Brokers forecast earnings per share of 43 cents this year and 62 cents in 1999. That leaves the shares on a sky-high current multiple of 400 times, and values Yahoo! at an astonishing £10bn.
Even if it grows earnings at the projected 44pc a year, it would take a decade to reach an average market rating, Yet a key characteristic of the Internet is its instability.
Business models constantly change as new opportunities open up. .
Established publishers find this hard to handle, and creative entrepreneurs hold sway.
Yahoo! started as a search tool but has become an electronic market place. .
Who would sell while prices are rocketing? Yet the bubble could burst. Shares in Web-site group theglobe.com were floated last week at $9, soared to $97, but are now back to $40.
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domain: news


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Anyone who’s watched Amazon operate over the past two decades knows that there if there’s one key principle baked into its culture, it’s this: “Have no fear.” Risks that would have cowed virtually any other company — such as going headfirst into the grocery business — don’t seem to phase its leadership.
This has been true for much of its lifespan. Decades ago, I remember thinking that the idea of Amazon – then a successful but deeply niched digital bookseller – taking over and absolutely crushing other e-commerce categories was just nuts. Sure, Amazon might have solved some challenging retail problems and attracted a lot of eyeballs, but how would it ever make the leap into an e-commerce superstore that could hold its own against large and well-funded competitors? It didn’t seem likely.
Over the several years, as I’ve watched Amazon continue to dominate, well, the entire US economy by some measures, healthcare has gradually appeared in its sites, and now, if the buzz out there is correct, the e-commerce giant Is set to make a play which could have an outsized impact on the industry as a whole.
Over the past few years, Amazon has popped in the news from time to time with news of its ongoing efforts to expand its healthcare footprint. One theme that has emerged fairly often is its work to expand the presence of its Alexa voice assistant in healthcare, most recently announcing that it was making it possible for voice assistant developers to offer HIPAA-compliant services for the Alexa platform
Then, in 2019, Amazon made a much bigger splash in the industry, spending $753 million to buy online pharmacy Pill Pack. This set the stage for the e-retailing giant to fight for a share of the immense retail pharmacy market, a move that while a risk even for a player the size of Amazon also began to set Amazon up for offering a broader range of healthcare options.
Later that year, Amazon announced the launch of Amazon Care, a program bringing together telehealth services with access to in-person doctor and nurse visits. Amazon Care was just a pilot serving only Amazon’s Seattle employees and their families, but the effort didn’t go unnoticed by people like me who watch the tech giant like a hawk when it makes healthcare moves.
Now, it looks like these steps – along with others getting far less news coverage – are coming together to form the basis for Amazon to launch a comprehensive telehealth service. If Amazon can pull off something like this, it could well change the dynamics of the exploding telehealth industry as a whole. Plus, it’s a very different approach to telehealth than their Amazon Chime product.
According to Business Insider, Amazon is pitching the telehealth service to major employers such as Zillow. Their employees who are based near the Amazon headquarters will get access to both online and in-person medical visits, while those elsewhere will receive just the virtual care.
To date, Amazon has refused to comment on rumors about its plans. However, not only does the news seem credible, it seems like something the $1.6T retailer all but has to do soon. With telehealth becoming such a central part of care delivery, even giants like Amazon can’t afford to seem unprepared or lacking the insight needed to make sure such a large effort work. As Amazon’s Haven effort with Berkshire Hathaway and Chase just folded up its tent, some are saying that the only thing that might have come from the Haven experiment was Amazon Care and there’s no reason to see why Amazon wouldn’t keep it expanding this and other telehealth efforts. Expect to see some big news arising from Amazon on this front soon.


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Honda, the renowned Japanese automaker, is set to unveil its latest offering in the Indian market, with its new car anticipated to hit the streets before the festive season of Diwali. This arrival is poised to intensify the competition in the compact sedan segment, particularly against rivals like Tata Tigor and Maruti Suzuki Dzire.
The new Honda car is expected to boast a sleek and contemporary design, featuring sharp lines and dynamic curves that epitomize modern automotive aesthetics. Its exterior is likely to exude a sense of sophistication, making it a head-turner on the roads.
Under the hood, enthusiasts anticipate a robust engine lineup, delivering a balance of power and efficiency. Honda is renowned for its engineering prowess, and the upcoming model is expected to live up to this reputation, offering drivers an exhilarating yet fuel-efficient driving experience.
Inside the cabin, comfort and convenience are paramount. Expect plush interiors adorned with premium materials, coupled with state-of-the-art technology features aimed at enhancing connectivity, entertainment, and overall driving pleasure.
Tata Motors' Tigor has been a formidable player in the compact sedan segment, offering a compelling blend of style, performance, and value. With Honda's entry, the competition is set to escalate, driving innovation and raising the bar for consumers.
Maruti Suzuki's Dzire, a household name in India, has dominated the compact sedan market for years. However, with Honda's new offering on the horizon, the battle for market supremacy is expected to intensify, as both brands vie for the attention of discerning buyers.
In a market known for its price sensitivity, Honda is likely to adopt a competitive pricing strategy, aiming to offer maximum value for money without compromising on quality or features. This approach could help the brand carve out a significant market share and attract a diverse range of customers.
With its impending launch, Honda's new car is poised to inject fresh excitement into the compact sedan segment, promising consumers a compelling alternative to existing offerings. As anticipation builds and competition heats up, one thing is certain: the Indian automotive landscape is in for an electrifying transformation.


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Entries in 'Vita' (150)
PlayStation UK is teasing a new ‘slim’ announcement for next week.
2K Games’ Borderlands 2 finally has a firm release date on PlayStation Vita.
MCV takes a look at the biggest releases and events that will affect the games industry in the next year.
There could be a time in the future when PlayStation Vita drops physical games altogether.
Square Enix has confirmed a release date for Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster for PlayStation Vita.
Coordinates set for consumer backlash disaster!
The PS4 and Xbox One launch line-up has been overshadowed by games for Wii U, Vita and 3DS.
It’s not all about PS4 this Christmas for Sony, with the firm throwing £2.5m behind Vita, too.
Users who suddenly found themselves unable to log into PSN last night have been told that Sony has reset their passwords.
Surprise – Amazon has launched a PlayStation Network Digital Games and DLC Store in the US.
Nintendo has confirmed Wii U and 3DS titles will be able to offer cross-play support with other consoles, handhelds and mobile devices.
Thatgamecompany’s Flower and Flow will both be released on PS4, it has been confirmed.
Sony has admitted before that software pricing has been an issue for Vita, but today’s release of Angry Birds Trilogy suggests that the problem is far from solved.
Warner has announced Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition for a number of formats.
It isn’t always possible to interpret interview answers with 100 per cent accuracy, but comments from Sony suggest that the Vita was nearly scrapped.
A new ratings classification suggests Warner Bros' superhero brawler Injustice: Gods Among Us could be heading to Vita.
Sony is set to announce a price drop for the PlayStation Vita as well as its memory cards, the company has announced to retailers.
Updated kits and squad rosters are the only addition to the 3DS version of FIFA 14.
There’s something quite refreshing about the executives at Sony.
The re-designed PlayStation Vita has been constructed with a very simple premise in mind – make the system cheaper and more appealing.
PlayStation has landed itself another tasty-looking indie exclusive in the form of Visiontrick media’s Pavilion.
Former Vita exclusive Assassin's Creed Liberation is to receive an HD re-release on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.
Rayman Origins, Persona 4, Dead or Alive 5 Plus and Final Fantasy X and X-2 HD Remastered are among the Vita games confirmed to be compatible with PS Vita TV.
At the PlayStation Japan press conference earlier today, Sony revealed a new, slimmer PS Vita as well as the PS Vita TV, a device that lets you play PS Vita ...
Sony surprised the industry with the reveal of PS Vita TV this morning, but what does the device say about the company’s forward thinking?


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Andy Malay, former director of public sector sales and business development at IBM‘s Workday business, has joined spend management software vendor Coupa Software as regional vice president for the federal government sector.
He will be responsible for establishing Coupa’s value-as-a-service spend optimization model in an effort to help federal clients address contract management and procurement challenges, the company said Monday.
The more than two-decade federal market veteran will also work with customer agencies to help them manage spending through the use of technology.
Malay previously led a sales team that offers IBM’s Workday enterprise resource planning software product to the public sector.
Prior to IBM, he was VP and general manager of the federal civilian and international public sector group for SAP‘s U.S. subsidiary SAP America, where he managed the sales, delivery and implementation of software platforms designed for government customers.
He also served as VP for Manugistics‘ global government, aerospace, defense and airline group.
San Mateo, California-based Coupa offers cloud-based financial software platforms designed to help organizations manage buying power and spending.


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WINFIELD, IL - State Sen. Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove) spoke at the General Membership Meeting of the Chemical Industry Council of Illinois at the Klein Creek Golf Club in Winfield on Aug. 23. He spoke about the state’s current business climate, and gave an overview of the spring legislative session and what is currently happening in the General Assembly.
The business of chemistry in Illinois is the state’s third largest manufacturing sector behind the food industry and heavy equipment. The state’s chemical industry employs more than 45,000 and supports close to 250,000 Illinois jobs among their suppliers. The industry recently became Illinois’ second largest exporter, moving $8.5 billion worth of product out of the country in 2011.
Pictured is Sen. Sandack addressing the General Membership Meeting.


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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – A grocery store in Youngstown has officially reopened, a dream for the local owner.
A new beginning for Gene’s Market, roof leaks were fixed and the counter was enclosed. The store has now reopened.
“Perseverance. Overcoming that everything that I had to do just to get to this point, I mean, this whole lot of sad, a whole lot of happy,” said Roncarlos Hilton, the owner of Gene’s Market.
The grocery along Hillman Street has another new chapter. Bridgeway Capital, a commercial real estate office out of Pittsburgh, heard the story and asked just two questions before getting involved.
“We said well, is it a low income area? Is it a food desert? Yes,” said Marty Randal, a commercial real estate officer at Bridgeway Capital.
The company provided a $3,500 grant and backed a $78,000 loan.
Gene’s Market has fresh fruits, including pineapple, and fresh vegetables like onions and potatoes.
The purpose was to provide a place with fresh items, so people can buy them close to home.
“You can have somebody in the immediate neighborhood who can [provides this] service…and that’s what I’m trying to do,” said Hilton.
Gene’s is taking this approach one step at a time. The shelves and cases have good items, but they’re not full. Hilton knows what would be an extremely popular addition.
“Deli meat man, I think Deli would help me out,” said Hilton.
Hilton is proud of how Gene’s Market has grown in the neighborhood, and knows there is plenty of work ahead. But so far, he’s been able to turn lemons into lemonade.
“His dad had this vision. And you could see when Roncarlos talked about it, how important it was for him to fill his fulfill his dad’s dreams,” said Randal.
As RonCarlos’s dad would say, “The turtle won the race.” He didn’t quit despite the obstacles in the way.
RonCarlos hopes the next person in a similar situation will remember those things. He also likes the potential for that part of the city.


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Due to the fact releasing their self-titled album back again in 2012, Django Django made their very own minor place in the music sector as their psychedelic-tinged rock and one of a kind electronic flourishes was totally new and innovative.
The groundbreaking debut album observed the quartet catapult to unforeseen concentrations of success, culminating in a Mercury Prize nomination, mentions in stop-of-calendar year polls from the two NME and Rolling Stone, and options in movie video games including FIFA 13 and Grand Theft Auto V.
The album’s style-blending brand of far-out indie/electronica observed Django Django supply a debut filled with tracks that have because develop into extended standing fan favourites from the hypnotic ‘Hail Bop’, to the buoyant and buzzing ‘Default’, the laidback psych reduce ‘Life’s a Beach’ and outside of.
Quick forward to 2022 and Django Django are commemorating its tenth anniversary in fashion with a deluxe unique edition offer.
Talking of the future re-release, singer and guitarist Vincent Neff claims: “Our debut album is 10 several years previous! It was the album that set us on our way and it’ll usually be a distinctive a single to us. It reminds us of recording in Dave’s bedroom, playing at small club evenings up and down the British isles and taking in all the new new music that was remaining created in East London at that time.
“When we released it, we had no idea what would transpire, but it finished up being the start out of a insane journey for us.”
Django Django will launch ‘Django Django’ (10th Anniversary Version) will be launched on 27th May 2022. Pre-get right here.


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Seems like, over the last few months particularly, company sustainability reports are all over my news feeds. Businesses in the US and abroad have clearly grasped the idea of showing their commitment to people, planet and profit, but I often wondered how much of this represented real, substantive change, and how much was pure greenwash. Today, consulting firm SustainAbility released Tomorrow’s Value, its “fourth international benchmark of corporate sustainability reporting.” The report, created in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and Standard & Poors, essentially ranks and analyzes corporate sustainability reports on how well they represent what a company is actually doing. Their findings show that, despite notorious coporate cranks on environmental issues, many major corporations are recognizing opportunity in not simply managing risks and complying with regulations, but in taking on bigger environmental challenges, and in doing business more transparently. Among the major conclusions:
- The pack of new entrants storming up our 50 Leaders chart, suggesting that the appetite for innovation in reporting continues to grow.
- Value creation is increasingly surfacing as a theme in reports and their titles, as in the 2005 Philips report Creating Value.
- Our top-scoring company defines the “third generation” business case as focusing on the marketplace, solutions and support for competitive bids.
- Leading corporate reporters are now expanding their coverage to embrace emerging economy issues, but they are being outflanked by a small but growing number of non-OECD companies which have ambitions to develop powerful brand positions as they break into international markets.
- As a result, companies seen to be overly focused on accountability and risk could find themselves marked down as laggards at a time when mainstream markets are switching on to challenges like climate change and carbon trading.
If these general statements weren’t encouraging enough, guess which US company finished highest in the rankings? Nike. Yep, the shoe maker that activist and social responsibility NGOs loved to hate (with good reason) ten years ago is now leading the pack in transparency for its social and environmental impact. SustainAbility founder and “Chief Entrepreneur” John Elkington noted, “Similar to the other top reporters, Nike is embracing the idea that sustainability and reporting are about far more than mitigating risk and appeasing stakeholders, they are the very basis for entrepreneurship inside their company that will lead to strategic innovations and the building of new markets yet to come.” Now, that’s good news! And if Nike can do it, other companies will find less patience from shareholders and the public with excuses…


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Shorenstein picks up East Village rental building for $57M
Benchmark paid the same price to buy it in 2013, but then sold the retail in 2015
Benchmark purchased the 12-story, 57,000-square-foot building for the same price in 2013, and then sold the retail condominium portion in 2015 for $25 million, Benchmark’s Jordan Vogel told The Real Deal on Wednesday.
HFF represented Benchmark on the deal and arranged $31 million in financing from Helaba Bank on Shorenstein’s behalf. Representatives for the San Francisco-based Shorenstein Company, an arm of Shorenstein Properties, confirmed the purchase.
Benchmark started marketing the building for sale last year, along with two other buildings in the West Village. The investment firm was seeking $130 million total for all three properties.
In March, Benchmark sold one of the buildings, 65 Bank Street, for $31 million. The firm had purchased the property, a 37-unit rental building, for $15.2 million in 2015. The third building, at 82 West 12th Street, is still available.
Benchmark has shed several of its rental properties in the past year, including a Midtown West building for $48 million in May and a rental building near Gramercy Park for $87.5 million in March 2016.
(To view Shorenstein Properties’ office leasing transactions, click here)


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China Pulls Plug on Electric Vehicle Fraud
(Beijing) — The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has punished seven Chinese electric vehicle makers for subsidy cheating.
Nearly 4,500 subsidized electric vehicles produced by the seven companies were found to have less powerful batteries than the firms declared when applying for incentives, according to an MIIT statement published on Saturday.
- 1Power To The People: Pintec Serves A Booming Consumer Class
- 2Largest hotel group in Europe accepts UnionPay
- 3UnionPay mobile QuickPass debuts in Hong Kong
- 4UnionPay International launches premium catering privilege U Dining Collection
- 5UnionPay International’s U Plan has covered over 1600 stores overseas


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Another TennoCon is on the way for Warframe fans later this year. Scheduled for Saturday, July 17, the event will once again be digital due to pandemic restrictions and available to fans for free via multiple streaming services. During the event, players can expect the customary game reveals, in-game activities, and dev panels — as well as some community content: cosplay, art, etc.
As with every TennoCon, digital or not, Digital Extremes has partnered with a charity. This year, players who purchase any of three packs ranging from $25 to $65 USD and help support the Unity Project for Relief of Homelessness. The Unity Project provides emergency shelter and other services for individuals 18 and over trying to avoid homelessness.
The packs consist of a digital pack available to players on PC and Consoles, a physical merchandise pack, and a bundle containing both. However, the digital items in the bundle are available on PC only.


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• OuterLife is a new web3 gaming incubator and accelerator by GameSwift and PlayWay which utilizes MATIC blockchain’s scaling capabilities.
• With their SDK, devs & studios can port simulation games to web3 and plug into an interconnected digital reality.
• Blockchain technology has the ability to provide new enhancements to tried and tested gaming models, allowing players to get close to the game more than ever.
PlayWay & GameSwift Introduce OuterLife
GameSwift and global gaming giant PlayWay are the latest companies to tap into the Polygon zkEVM’s unlimited blockchain scaling capabilities as part of an effort to expand into the gaming ecosystem. The two companies have teamed up to introduce a new Web3 gaming incubator and accelerator called OuterLife.
OuterLife would see the integration of PlayWay’s over 100 subsidiary gaming studios and libraries of simulation titles, Polygon’s cutting-edge protocol, and GameSwift’s steam-like modular gaming platform. The SDK enables developers & studios to port their simulation games to web3 and plug into an interconnected digital reality. Players will be able to self-custody with NFTs (non-fungible tokens) in order take items & abilities from one simulation game to another.
The Impact Of Blockchain Technology On Gaming
According to PlayWay, it will port some of its catalog of games so that gamers can experience a fresh and engaging experience for gamers. Other gaming studios that produce simulators have also been allowed join the incubator and use a zk-powered Polygon Supernet for building their blockchain projects on top of it. Paweł Łaskarzewski, COO at OuterLife believes that blockchain technology has immense potential when it comes disrupting the traditional ways of gaming as it provides players with new ways of getting close with games than ever before.
Investments In Web3 Gaming
According to reports, over $739M has been invested in first half 2019 alone in projects looking that look at bringing blockchain technology too mainstream gaming space while many other projects are being formed or looked upon by investors who believe this space holds immense potential for disruption as well as returns in long run investments giving way for more innovative ideas from devs around globe .
OuterLife aims at providing a scalable, efficient, secure all-in-one simulation platform powered by zkEVM which other developers can build upon easily reducing time spent on setting up infrastructure while providing great user experience thanks to integration with over 100 subsidiaries owned by Playway along side Polygons cutting edge protocol .


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The weird world of cryptocurrency got even weirder with the arrival of Shiba Inu. Now among the top 30 or so cryptocurrencies in the world,…
U.K.-based crypto debit card provider Wirex is expanding in the U.S. Wirex USA has received its first money transmission license from the Georgia Department of Banking and…View More Crypto debit card provider Wirex is expanding in the U.S.
Heading out from home? We’ve gathered some tips to make sure your trip is the smoothest it can be. About Chile Chile (/ˈtʃɪli/; Spanish: [ˈtʃile]), officially the Republic of…View More Travel tips: Chile
We are pleased to announce that all bunq users are now eligible to make payments on-the-go and with any card, without the need for a…View More Fitbit Pay now available with bunq


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ASB MAGAZINE:The Boardroom International Surfboard Show honored iconic surfer/shaper Wayne Lynch this weekend at the Icons of Foam Tribute to the Masters Shape-off presented by US Blanks at the Boardroom International Surfboard Show in Del Mar, California from May 4-5.
“It is an honor for me to be recognized for my shaping accomplishments alongside the past Icons of Foam honorees,” said Lynch. “Thanks to all of them and all the craftsmen in our tiny yet global surfboard industry.”
“We are over the moon to be honoring Wayne Lynch,” said Scott Bass Boardroom Show Executive Director. “The Boardroom prides itself on acknowledging great craftsmen, great shapers, and great surfers, but also great human beings. Wayne Lynch checks all the boxes.”
Past Icons of Foam honorees include Mike Diffenderfer, Bill Caster, John Bradbury, Dick Brewer, Renny Yater, Doug Haut, Simon Anderson, Carl Ekstrom, Mark Richards, Rich Price, Terry Martin, Ben Aipa, Rusty Preisendorfer, John Mel, Gerry Lopez, Al Merrick and Marc Andreini.
The Boardroom, beginning its 12th year, is a consumer facing showcase for the US surf manufacturing industry featuring shapers, designers, manufacturers, artists and the industry’s state-of-the-art surfboards. The show also highlights fins, wetsuits, skateboards, performance wear for both men and women, board shorts, technology, other hard-goods, the California Gold Surf Auction and much more.
Check out https://boardroomshow.com


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Don’t be a Chump! Check for a Lump! works to provide free breast health education, testing and direct assistance to breast cancer survivors with wigs, support and resources in Arizona.
Dr. Shaun Kennedy, ND, assistant professor of nutrition at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, outlines which fresh, seasonal foods to add into your diet with the new season. While everyone is excited for all things pumpkin spice, consider picking up one of these nutritious fall foods on your next shopping trip.
Not to be deterred by the pandemic, Kris Price opened Cryoshift, offering cryotherapy and other services for recovery and rejuvenation, at Crossroads Shopping Center in Gilbert this summer. This veteran of the wellness arena also happened to be the owner of the first Orangetheory Fitness in Arizona. Learn about Kris Price…
Now or Never, an upscale lifestyle shop, is now open along Roosevelt Row in Phoenix. The new shop curates clothing, furniture, accessories, home décor and skincare products from fine designers and independent brands and makers from across the globe.
One of the many things that city dwellers took from their time at home over the past few months is it how glorious it would be to have space to roam. That is where The Estates come in, offering a one-of-a-kind development of 10-acre lots in Flagstaff.
Located in Scottsdale, the newly opened Colette Skin Studio specializes in natural, pure products and holistic treatments from seasoned esthetician and Valley native, Kim Carson.
Carmen Starks is the CEO of Starks Candle Co. (a k a self-care candles) which offers hand-poured candles that are bursting with personality. Starks even offers a monthly subscription service.
In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Arizona Facial Plastics and Sojourner Center have teamed up with Phoenix’s Charity Charms to raise awareness and funds through their Key to Strength program.
Taliesin West in Scottsdale has reopened its doors to the public. Visitors to the celebrated Valley landmark can expect a low-contact, intimate experience.
From his time at military school to his 10-year career as a touring musician, it is safe to say Trent Hancock’s ability to wear many hats prepared him to be the VP of marketing at Scottsdale-based Camelot Homes. Learn about Trent Hancock…


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Hello cybersecurity, my old friend...
If ever there was a year to budget for technology, compliance and strategic assistance, 2018 is definitely it. Patching and privacy concerns can't wait.
Happy (belated) New Year, everyone! It's already started at breakneck speed for technologists, with a continuation of the wildly fluctuating value of Bitcoin, horrifying evidence of privacy breaches being used to sway national opinions and the latest, insidious backdoors into the CPU chips of 99% of all computing devices - yes, backdoors into the brains of everything from your laptop and phone to your washing machine and fridge.
What a time to be alive.
Within the first 3 months of 2018, we've learned that Facebook essentially has no clue what happens to your personal data when they sell it; but you knew you were the product, right? So if that Farmville app you used to play obsessively happened to push all your friends' data while you planted corn, they aren't responsible. Just remember that this practice may have extended to Instagram and Whatsapp, companies that Facebook bought in 2012 and 2014 respectively. Oh, and Whatsapp message encryption? It does not cover the sharing of your contacts and their phone numbers with Facebook, its parent company.
Think all the hubbub about Cambridge Analytica harvesting data from Facebook's API means nothing to us in the Caribbean? The parent company of Cambridge Analytica, SCL Group, has insinuated itself in elections and referendums in St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago. Remind me again, what is Barbados constitutionally obligated to have before June 1, 2018?
Don't think that Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple or other tech giants are any better. You may only find a deeper problem, now with cute speakers and names like Alexa, Siri or Cortana.
Run your business on Facebook or other US services for various reasons? Let avoidance of legal responsibility not be one of those reasons. The Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) act just passed by the US Congress lays a new framework by which countries can develop executive agreements with the USA for mutual legal assistance, allowing local warrants to be served on data stored in the USA and vice versa. No matter the arguments for and against the act, many countries will being rushing to the negotiation table.
Happen to work with clients from Europe? You will have to understand how this act will work in conjunction with the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and get your company - or country - GDPR-compliant in less than 50 days.
Don't quite look to distributed ledger technology or Bitcoin for assistance in this privacy-deficient environment. Bitcoin has plummeted in value since the end of 2017, from a high near US$20,000 to US$7,475 as at April 3, 2018. Measured and responsible development of blockchain technology applications continues to war with get-rich quick schemes, or initial coin offerings (ICOs) that too closely resemble unregulated initial public offerings (IPOs), inviting crackdowns from regulators to advertisers. Regulators in China, South Korea, the European Union and the United Kingdom are also scrutinizing Bitcoin and its backbone technology to stave off economic bubbles that could jeopardise the slow recovery of the global economy and weaken local currency restrictions. Meanwhile, Russia and Venezuela have proven ever-resourceful in avoiding sanctions through implementation of the Petro cryptocurrency
That's just the online and regulatory scenes. Even hardware is unsafe now, as two serious vulnerabilities named Meltdown and Spectre have been proven to allow access to critical data without leaving any traces on typical logs. Software patches have been developed for these attack vectors, but we are talking about patching every Intel, AMD and ARM chip developed, sold and still in use since 1995. To cover everything sold last year alone means updating refrigerators, washers, smartphones, laptops, desktops, tablets, televisions, monitors, ovens, ranges, cars, etc. etc. ad nauseum.
This is just the end of Q1. Hurricane season and elections roll around in 60 days; disaster recovery plans need to be dusted off, biannual IT audits are due and employees must be given time and privacy to exercise their civic duty. If ever there was a year to budget for technology, compliance and strategic assistance, 2018 is definitely it.


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Takata to Partner With Rival Supplier to Produce Replacement Inflators
Company will ask Japanese automakers for help.
Now faced with another huge recall, embattled Japanese supplier Takata is turning to its competition for help. According to a report from Reuters, Takata is looking to pair up with long-time rival Daicel Corp. to help produce replacement airbag inflators. In addition, Takata is asking Japanese automakers for financial support.
An unnamed source told Reuters of the partnership, which comes after nearly 50 million cars with Takata airbags have been recalled. Takata is reportedly struggling to supply the needed replacement parts and is asking Daicel, which already supplies Takata with some components, to help pick up the slack.
"We are discussing ways to work with Takata to supply safe [airbag] inflators, although we have not decided on any details," a Daicel spokesman told Reuters.
Takata would not comment on the possibility of a partnership.
The reports follow Friday's announcement of a new recall affecting around 5 million vehicles. That recall was prompted by a death in a Ford Ranger linked to faulty Takata inflators and metal shrapnel. The incident is the 10th known fatality related to the defective parts and the first death to occur in a vehicle other than a Honda.
If Takata is found to be responsible for the inflators, the company will have to pay for the tens of millions of recalls. Experts have estimated the cost of replacing airbags at around $100 per vehicle. In addition, the company faces a U.S. investigation and a number of class action suits. The supplier will reportedly ask its automaker customers for pricing support next week when it must answer for the results of an inquiry into the defective parts. In an effort to make amends, Takata will also announce the resignations of certain top executives, possibly including Shigehisa Takada, the president and grandson of the company's founder.
Given that many automakers have dropped Takata as a supplier, it's uncertain how much support they'll be willing to lend. Honda has taken the biggest hit from the recalls, as it was Takata's top customer.
Pictured is an airbag in a 2016 Nissan Altima, which is not subject to a recall.
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Welcome to 2022. Just what the year ahead has in store for Growth 2000 retailers may or may not make it a Happy New Year, but while there is much still to be concerned about, there is also cause for hope.
The mega-trends of Covid-19 and Brexit are of course going to cast a long shadow over the year ahead, but what else does 2022 have in store for growing online retailers? Here are what some of the experts think.
In 2022, many retailers will come to realise that these now familiar personalisation solutions have value outside the customer-facing realm, and can be leveraged to tackle logistical and operational challenges too, such as disruptions facing the supply chain.
Supply chains are broken everywhere from manufacturing, to storage and shipment. On top of this, every company has a unique set of circumstances to contend with, tackling challenges with partners, inventories, store locations and more. In this environment, understanding how, for example, a particular supply chain disruption will affect customer delivery in two months is critical. Company personalisation enables visibility of things like local weather, time of delivery, and even an outlook for finding and recruiting new staff. The ability to understand oneself and one’s environment in this way enables retailers to look ahead and predict previously unforeseen challenges, empowering them to prepare with confidence.
Alex Rutter, UK Director, Retail, Google Cloud
Supply chain issues and inflation
Retailers will have to prioritise and rethink how they manage their inventory and set expectations with customers to prevent poor experiences due to continued delivery delays.
Meanwhile, due to inflation, sellers will face higher costs across brick-and-mortar, e-commerce, and marketplaces and will have to adjust pricing in the buy box to convert and keep customers.
Together, supply chain challenges and inflation will create higher costs for retailers, but small businesses with smaller budgets and teams will be more heavily impacted.
George Trantas, senior director, global marketplaces, Avalara
AI to address labour shortages
“Amid a shortage of labour and increased customer demand for faster service, quick-service restaurants will employ AI for automated order taking. Thanks to advancements in natural language understanding and speech, combined with recommendation systems, fast food restaurants will roll out automated order taking to speed drive-through times and improve recommendations. In supermarkets and big-box stores, retailers will increase their use of intelligent video analytics and computer visions to create automated checkouts and autonomous or cashier-less shopping.”
Azita Martin, VP & GM of Artificial Intelligence for Retail
The future is headless
“Next year will see headless technology at the forefront of commerce. It means more flexibility, more integration and less siloed solutions and in the B2C world, it will make it easier to use social commerce and keep up with user interface trends. While consumer e-commerce has been much faster at adopting new technologies, in B2B many organisations are less agile. However, headless commerce will become critical even in business-to-business in 2022 as it will be the make or break of acquiring, retaining and engaging a business customer. Elsewhere the ongoing focus on consumer experience will bring more pressure on brands to work well with data, personalisation and a completely frictionless and smooth experience across different channels. We’ll also see more brands starting to integrate crypto into innovative rewards programs.”
Achille Traore, CEO, While Label Loyalty


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Toyota has moved one step further to launching what it hopes is the next big revolution in the auto industry, revealing the production version of its new Fuel Cell Vehicle.
The new car, tentatively named the FCV, will go on sale in Japan before April of 2015 and will arrive in the US and Europe the following summer.
The FCV will have a range of roughly 435 miles and can be refilled in just three minutes. During operation, it’s only emission is water vapor.
Toyota has said the car will retail for roughly 7,000,000 yen in Japan, which converts to approximately $70,000.
GALLERY: Toyota FCV
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Seven-figure funding deal powers electrical retailer’s shift to bigger base
A Yorkshire electrical retailer has secured a seven-figure funding package from HSBC UK to move to larger premises in response to growing customer demand.
Crampton and Moore, a family-run seller of televisions and home appliances, has used funding from HSBC UK to acquire the 40,000 sq ft former JTF building in Catcliffe, South Yorkshire.
The business will use the site as a new office space, warehouse and large showroom for its expanding range of products.
The backing from HSBC UK has enabled the business to diversify its product range and deliver more efficient operations.
Crampton and Moore is also looking to improve its delivery and installation service for customers through the expansion of its delivery fleet.
Having experienced a boom in online sales during lockdown, the company has grown turnover 20% over the last two years and is now forecasting to double this in the next 24 months.
The business will also be hiring five more employees once the move to Catcliffe is complete and will continue to look to bring in more delivery drivers as part of its ongoing expansion plans.
Robert Moore, managing director, said: “The relocation of our operations marks a major milestone for the business and means we can now progress with our exciting plans for further growth and development.
“We’re grateful to HSBC UK for providing funding which helps us service the huge increases in product demand, whilst ensuring we retain our unique offering that combines the convenience of online shopping with our personal customer service.”
David Leonard, relationship director at HSBC UK, added: “We’re delighted to be funding the relocation of Crampton & Moore: a trusted family-run business which continues to put customers and the local market at the forefront of its plans.
“Having outgrown its existing premises, the business can now put its expansion strategy into practice, creating jobs for the South Yorkshire region.”
Established in 1966, Crampton & Moore is one of the largest independent electric retailers in the North of England with a large online operation and stores in Sheffield, Leeds and Harrogate.


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As per a report on NPU, three new Nokia phones/smartphones carrying the model numbers Nokia TA-1075, Nokia TA-1105 and Nokia TA-1116 have been certified in Russia. The devices appeared in the listings of the Russian Certification Agency on 3rd May 2018 and you can see the list in the screenshot below:
|Image Credits: NPU
As of now we only know that these different model numbers are new and belong to some unannounced Nokia phones/smartphones. It has been more than a year since Nokia Mobile launched their Nokia 3 and Nokia 5 smartphones at MWC 2017 and we are pretty sure that the 2nd generation of these two Nokia devices will be launched sometime in near future. So, there could be a possibility that these model numbers could belong to the Nokia 3 (2018) and Nokia 5 (2018).


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Beef has created an identity and website for Gap Medics, a new initiative from charity Work The World aimed at 16- to 18-year-olds interested in studying medicine abroad. The consultancy has designed a brand it says looks ‘youth-oriented but not trendy’ with a ‘textural and slightly urban’ font. Split photography is used across communications to announce each destination and the profession. Branding for each country uses a separate colourset.
Cars: Accelerating the Modern World — the first exhibition exclusively dedicated to automobiles at the museum — explores the machine’s history and future.
Dutchscot designs wordmark inspired by planetary orbits while branding uses marbling to replicate look and feel of food
Our guide of what to catch at the Offset Dublin conference, which has just announced a line up including illustrator Laura Callaghan, Pentagram’s Rory Simms and Lego’s Jen Kronvold Frederiksen.
In light of the upcoming December election, we asked design experts to deconstruct the six main political parties’ identities and election strategies.


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August 17, 2021
With 80% of its properties located on the seafront, it’s perhaps no surprise that Iberostar Group takes a keen interest in the health of the world’s oceans and the local communities where the company operates. This is one of the concerns that has prompted the brand to join Expedia Group and UNESCO to sign the UNESCO Sustainable Tourism Pledge. But what does signing the Pledge mean for the Spanish-based global hospitality brand?
Environmental and cultural sensitivity
The UNESCO Pledge, launched by Expedia Group in 2019 in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), commits travel companies to promote responsible practices, community resilience, and heritage conservation. Its ultimate goal is to change the nature and impact of global tourism by protecting destinations against the ill effects of climate change, the pandemic, and beyond. Not only does this commitment align with Expedia Group’s corporate values, but it’s also increasingly in line with consumers’ wishes; in fact, as Expedia Group’s recent Traveler Value Index report showed, nearly three in five travelers are willing to pay more to make their trip more sustainable. At present, more than 4,000 hotels have signed up to the Pledge.
Living by the Pledge as a hospitality brand
Iberostar’s efforts to foster a more sustainable form of tourism focus primarily on several key goals: eliminating waste, sourcing seafood responsibly, neutralizing carbon emissions, and improving the health of the ecosystems surrounding its hotels. These goals and more have been formalized into the group’s 2030 Agenda, in which it undertakes to be waste free by 2025 and carbon neutral by 2030.
“As tourism returns, Iberostar’s commitment to leading a responsible tourism model has only grown,” says Dr. Megan Morikawa, Global Sustainability Director for Iberostar Group, “The Sustainable Travel Pledge with Expedia Group and UNESCO allow us to share not only our journey in our 2030 Agenda, but to share and learn from the network of tourism providers in the community of others who have taken the Pledge. We see this as a critical way for tourism to catalyze solutions in the face of current and future crises.”
Protecting vital marine habitat
Iberostar’s commitment to the UNESCO Pledge is exemplified by the company’s Wave of Change initiative, and specifically its support for work to protect and restore the Mesoamerican Reef. This unique and delicate marine habitat stretches along the Caribbean coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras – also the location of many Iberostar properties. The company’s efforts in the region are aimed at increasing the resiliency of the Mesoamerican Reef to adapt to climate change risks, achieved through the establishment of comprehensive, science-based, ecosystem propagation and restoration programs.
Hotel advertising that can reach any traveler, anywhere
Travelers looking to book a hotel use multiple channels to find their ideal place to stay, from social media to travel websites, and more. This is why it’s imperative that you know when — and where — to reach the right traveler. Whether you’re trying to reach early-bird or last-minute bookers, our targeting capabilities can help you connect with the right traveler at the right time.
Highlighting the important message
In addition to these actions, Iberostar also partnered with our team on the Discover Iberostar campaign, which will educate travelers about the Wave of Change movement and offer consumers a responsible vacation experience. Developed by our Creative Partnerships team, the interactive campaign features stunning images and thoughtfully curated information designed to inspire users to make more informed decisions on how they travel, and prompt them to consider their impact on destinations. Through bold and direct messaging, users are encouraged to interact with the content, thereby making a positive impact and helping improve coastal health with just one click. As part of this campaign, Iberostar Group and Expedia Group have both contributed $100,000 to the initiative to protect and restore the Mesoamerican Reef.
If you would like to learn more about the UNESCO Sustainable Tourism Pledge then visit the pilot website; more details will be added later in 2021. Wider topics around environmental and cultural sustainability in travel are discussed in this recent blog post. Alternatively, you can find out about more of the latest industry trends by reading the Q2 2021 Travel Recovery Trend Report, which is based on first-party Expedia Group data.


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| Internet Advertising Revenues Continue
to Accelarate at an Unprecedented Rate
First Six Months of '06 hit $7.9
Billion and Q2 Exceeds $4 Billion
During the MIXX Conference and Expo, the Interactive Advertising
Bureau (IAB) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) released Internet
Advertising Revenues covering Q2 and the first six months of 2006.
Internet advertising revenues (U.S.) for the first six months
of 2006 were approximately $7.9 billion, a new record and a 37%
increase over the first half of 2005.
Internet advertising revenue totaled nearly $4.1billion for the
second quarter of 2006, exceeding the $4 billion mark, representing
a 36% increase over same period 2005. Q2 2006 revenues represent
a 5.5% increase over Q1 2006.
"Interactive delivers an arsenal of options for advertisers
no matter their marketing and business objectives. From search,
broadband, lead generation, behavioral targeting, consumer generated
content and new emerging platforms like mobile and iPTV, Interactive
continues to solidify its position as a mainstream medium,"
said Greg Stuart, CEO of the Interactive Advertising Bureau. "This
latest report is a clear indication that Interactive is of increased
importance to marketers today to engage their consumers and drive
"The latest results reaffirm the Internet's growing importance
for marketers to integrate online advertising into their overall
media plans," said David Silverman, Partner, Entertainment
& Media Practice, PricewaterhouseCoopers. "While search
advertising remains the largest format in terms of revenues, we
expect to see new formats like video ads to continue to emerge
as advertisers seek to leverage the branding opportunities afforded
by the growing installed base of broadband users."
"Internet advertising continues to reach new milestones,
exceeding $4 billion in quarterly revenues for the first time,
and on pace for another record year of revenues," said Pete
Petrusky, Director, Entertainment & Media Practice, PricewaterhouseCoopers.
"With the seventh consecutive quarter of growth behind us
we are confident that the Internet will continue to reconcile
the imbalances between its share of media consumption versus its
relative share of total advertising spend."
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While 2020 was an extremely difficult year, there were some silver linings. Many new opportunities were created for entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship will likely play a critical role in the world’s economic recovery.
A number of new doors opened for entrepreneurs as business was suddenly taken online and remote. Moving into 2021, the trend of remote work is likely to continue and many entrepreneurs will likely position themselves accordingly.
In addition, many other trends are likely to define the entrepreneurial landscape in 2021, including:
1. Movement toward platform-based services.
Four of the top five most valuable brands are platforms. These brands are Microsoft, Google, Apple, and Amazon. In recent years, there has been a clear shift toward creating community and a larger marketplace rather than a single product or service. With a platform, people have the ability to interact and transact, which drives learning.
With the rapid shift toward remote working, workplace apps are in higher demand than ever before, especially tools that can be used to drive collaboration and productivity. The recent acquisition of Slack by Salesforce points to the need for platforms that have these tools built in and many competitors are likely to emerge in the coming months. Moving forward, more startups are likely to embrace the platform format and offer customers a comprehensive solution rather than a single product.
2. Improved cross-border payment options.
The global financial system is remarkably poorly connected. Because banks have been slow to introduce financial solutions, many corporations struggle to execute cross-border transactions. Even major tech conglomerates like Google and Amazon struggle to get payments in and out of emerging markets like Southeast Asia. Issues include currency controls, compliance requirements, and the shift from hard currency to credit.
The growing popularity of cryptocurrency offers some hope for more effective payments in 2021. Cryptocurrency is reliable without the same currency restraints. PayPal and Square are already beginning to incorporate cryptocurrency, but other entrepreneurs are likely to enter this space and fulfill this need, especially given the global economic strain caused by the pandemic and the need for easier transactions.
3. Novel solutions for pandemic-related problems.
When COVID-19 forced people to become socially distant, virtually all sectors took a hit. People have been talking about a “new normal” for months. The truth is that a return to the old normal is likely for some industries that have struggled with a distance-based format. These industries include education, events, and fitness.
Investors put a lot of money into creating virtual counterparts for these industries. Despite this, the push to return to previous norms will be strong, especially with the promise of a vaccine. Some of these investors may lose out as industries revert more quickly than expected.
However, there will likely still need to be some changes to the old normal to make it as safe as possible for the people involved. This shift will create new opportunities for creative entrepreneurs who can offer solutions that bring people closer to the old normal without putting them at undue risk.
4. Stronger embrace of high technology.
The immediate rebound from coronavirus was fueled by new technologies. Moving forward, people are more willing than ever before to accept technology since they had to do so quickly once the pandemic began. Moreover, the availability of 5G technology will further fuel the development of high-tech industries.
5G has been generating excitement for a long time and is finally a real possibility as networks start to get rolled out across the globe. More than half of the world is predicted to have 5G within five years. With 5G, people have access to faster connection speeds and more capacity with virtually no latency. These opens new doors for the internet of things and edge computing, as well as autonomous cars, robotic surgeons, and more.
5. Greater emphasis on green-based operations.
One of the top trends of 2020 was impact investing. Altogether, investors put more than $45 billion into the sustainability industry in the first quarter of the year. The venture capital space has had a similar interest in green-focused businesses that will likely only grow as we move into 2021. After all, investing in green businesses has the potential for high returns while also address some of the biggest issues currently facing the planet.
Not long ago, sustainability focused mostly on energy and how to reduce the use of fossil fuels. Today, however, people are concerned with how green practices can be incorporated into a full range of industries, including transportation, manufacturing, construction, finance, and agriculture. Something as simple as integrating tools for offsetting carbon into consumer-facing applications can have a major impact and entrepreneurs are paying attention to this shift.


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Lucky 777 Lab received approval from the Brunswick Planning Board to move forward with its marijuana extraction business. The conditional use ...
On June 27, Governor Janet Mills signed the Marijuana Rules bill into law. Recreational marijuana sales will finally begin in March ...
As the public comment period closed regarding recreational marijuana regulations in Maine, the draft rules are ready to be discussed. The ...
Maine is attempting to get recreational marijuana sales started sometime in 2019. The first public hearing regarding draft rules for the ...
Governor Janet Mills has signed legislation into law authorizing the sale of CBD products. The emergency legislation was written after warnings ...
The Kittery School Committee is working on updating its rules regarding medical marijuana. The district says that no students currently use ...
Providing that the state approves rules for the recreational marijuana industry during this legislative session in Maine, retail stores could be ...
The Houlton Planning Board has approved a 180-day medical marijuana moratorium. Maine law allows individual jurisdictions to determine specific regulations regarding ...
Recreational marijuana sales haven’t begun in Maine yet but Portland city officials are ready. Zoning rules are in place regarding where ...
Maine lawmakers are still in the process of making the rules for the state’s recreational marijuana industry. It expects the first ...


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Executive Suite is sponsored by Robin Russell Executive Search.
• Publix announced last week that on January 1, 2024, Todd Jones will become Executive Chairman of the company.
At that time, the company's president, Kevin Murphy, will be promoted to CEO.
Senior Vice President John Goff will be promoted to President.
The current Chairman of the Board, Ed Crenshaw, will remain on the board of directors as Chairman Emeritus.


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By: Abhishek Sreedhar -- Senior Research Analyst, Specialty Chemicals
25 September, 2017
Indian acetone market is currently import-driven with major imports coming from Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand and Singapore. Demand for acetone is on an upward trend and is likely to continue increasing till 2022 mainly driven by the automobile and the construction sector.
China is currently the largest importer of acetone in Asia and this scenario is likely to change with four new capacity additions and two expansions anticipated to take place by the end of 2020. With a cumulative of around 1.2 MMT expected to be added, China’s path towards self-sufficiency is likely to make way for India becoming the largest importer of acetone in Asia.
The ongoing reduction of Chinese imports and the lack of viable alternative markets in Asia would mean that the surplus Asian volumes are anticipated to increasingly find their way to India.
This white paper aims to address the key import opportunities from Saudi Arabia in terms of sourcing acetone and also to provide an outlook of price comparison between Saudi Arabia and the current sourcing destinations.
Introduction to Indian acetone market
The Indian acetone market, currently estimated at 180.5 thousand MT, is expected to grow at a rate of around 11.0 percent till 2022. This demand is fuelled mainly from the downstream end use in the pharmaceutical, paint and cosmetic industries accounting for more than 80 percent of acetone consumption in India.
India currently has only two domestic players catering to 30 percent of the regional demand and the rest 70 percent is met through imports from Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand and South Korea.
The Government initiative “Smart Cities Mission”, whose main goal is to make 109 cities in India citizen-friendly and sustainable by modernizing the existing mid-sized cities, is anticipated to boost the demand for acetone in the construction and automobile industry. The growth of smart cities and increase in migration of people from tier 3 to tier 2 and from tier 2 to tier 1 cities has boosted the demand for houses. , Also, spending on cars is likely to go up by 12 percent per year over the next 15-20 years. This is likely to boost car manufacturing in India thereby creating a need for acetone.
If such a scenario does happen the CAGR can shoot up to an optimistic 13-14 percent until 2022 as well. This clearly indicates the vast requirement of acetone required to meet the growing demand. However, India’s domestic market consists of only two players with a combined capacity of 44.6 thousand MT (2017) and an expected third player likely to come online in mid-2018 with a capacity of 120 thousand MT.
India is the second largest importer of acetone in Asia falling behind China. However, the trade balance is likely to undergo modifications with China adding close to 1.2 million MT of acetone thereby attaining self-sufficiency. This scenario would in-turn make India the largest importer of acetone in the Asian region.
In 2016, India imported roughly close to 145 thousand MT of acetone, with major imports coming from Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand and Singapore.
However, anti-dumping duties (ADDs) have been levied on most of these countries to discourage dumping acetone into India. Countries such as Thailand and Japan have their ADDs wavered off recently. However, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan still have ADDs imposed on them.
PTT Phenol Co. Ltd. has two plants producing around 309 thousand MT of acetone in Thailand. The country is a net exporter of acetone with major exports to Belgium, Taiwan, South Korea and the U.S. Thailand’s contribution to China’s import of acetone is close to 24 thousand tons which is around 6 percent. So even if China stops importing from Thailand, it will not be sufficient to cater to India’s growing demand despite the prices being cheaper.
Mentioned below is the Total landed Cost of importing acetone into India
Based on the above calculations, importing acetone works out to be a much better alternative especially after the ADDs on Thailand have been wavered off.
However, with the limitations on the quantity that Thailand could export to India coupled with increasing demand for acetone, Indian acetone procurement can look for new and cheaper avenues.
Saudi Arabia – New Avenue!
Saudi Arabia is a growing economy with a high dependency on exports. Saudi Arabia, in 2016 produced around 135 thousand MT of acetone and exporting close to 65 thousand MT out of which around 28 thousand MT of acetone was shipped to China followed by Belgium and Turkey.
The domestic demand for acetone was around 19 thousand MT in 2016 and it is anticipated to grow between rates of 2-3 percent till 2022. In addition, Petro-Rabigh is set to start its 160 thousand MT plant in by 2017-2018, bringing Saudi Arabia’s total installed capacity to 295 thousand MT.
However, with China on the verge of becoming self-sufficient in acetone production, Saudi Arabia, like other Asian countries would be keen on looking for other regions for exporting acetone.
Mentioned below is the total landed cost of importing acetone from Saudi Arabia into India
From the above calculation, it can be concluded that importing acetone from Saudi Arabia proves to be a cheaper sourcing alternative.
Indian buyers could likely tap into this market as it would be comparatively cheaper compared to the current acetone sourcing destinations.
In addition to the cost of imports being cheaper from Saudi Arabia, the transit time to India is also lesser compared to most of the Asian countries.
Demand for acetone in the Indian market is likely to witness a surge soon with increasing demand from the downstream sectors of construction and automobile. With the vision of smart cities in motion, procuring cheaper acetone into India would be a top priority.
With options already available to procure acetone from South-East Asia, Saudi Arabia looks to be a more favorable option for India to procure acetone in the future due to lower cost of production and lesser transit time when compared to other Asian countries such as Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand.
In addition to this, Saudi Arabia’s new capacity addition in the form of Petro-Rabigh’s 160 thousand MT acetone plant by 2017-2018 is further expected to increase the supply availability of acetone in Saudi Arabia, thereby presenting it as a potential sourcing market for acetone procurement for Indian buyers.
COVID-19: Assess impact on your suppliers and ensure business continuity with Beroe’s WIRE
(World Instant Risk Exposure)


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India will drive global trade post-Covid-19: DP World chief
21 October, 2020 | Ojasvi Chauhan
DP World chief Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said that India would drive global trade post the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that he has been impressed and motivated by India as it envisions a more compet...
Dubai [UAE], October 20 (ANI): India would drive global trade post the COVID-19 pandemic, said DP World chief Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem adding that he has been impressed and motivated by India as it envisions a more competitive future.
“India is poised to take advantage of the supply chain shifts triggered by Covid-19 and knows it. I have been impressed and motivated by India as it continues to fuel its vision of a more competitive future in the global trade economy,” said Sulayem in his article for the Khaleej Times dated Sunday. He said, “India’s allowance of 100 per cent foreign direct investment in most sectors, exempting companies from sharing their trade secrets with local partners, makes the country an attractive place to do business.”
The DP World Chief further wrote that the trilateral Supply Chain Resilience initiative along with Australia and Japan “is a potentially game-changing opportunity” for India to solidify its strategic position in the Indo-Pacific region adding, “The country is displaying remarkable strength across its 17 so-called ‘Champion Sectors’ such as textiles and biotechnology as it continues to move up the value chain with first-world markets.”
He feels that despite India’s apparent success, the rapidly rising expectations are outpacing what it can realistically deliver further suggesting that domestic production needs improving while, “complex federal and political structures can hamper the smooth flow of goods across the country.”
“As Bipul Chatterjee (executive director at CUTS International in India) points out, while productivity remains steady, the challenge remains to reduce the country’s incremental capital-output ratio from the current level of 4.5 to 3.6,” Sulayem wrote in his article.
“Today, we already benefit from a significant presence in India. Six port terminals across the Indian coastline handle one-fourth of India’s container trade volume, and we are building two FTZs at strategic locations in Nhava Sheva and Chennai, helping to expand their trade and manufacturing capability,” he added.
In order to help “India further its ambitions”, he said that he is committed to an “even deeper partnership” between India and DP World, spanning the supply chain, technology, government and infrastructure development projects, and even sport.
“By making India’s domestic supply chains more efficient, we aim to reduce India’s cost of logistics while improving their real-time visibility, predictability, and connectivity. Through our partnership, I hope that together we can energise and fulfil the vision of the Indian government’s Sagarmala programme, set up with the aim of modernising the country’s logistics sector, boosting exports, and generating millions of new jobs,” he wrote further.


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South Hills Village renovation plans announced
The International Air Transport Association recently released its annual World Airport Traffic report, detailing airport performance by cargo and passenger numbers. So where is the world's busiest airport? The answer may surprise you.
Where is the world's busiest airport? The answer may surprise you.
We hope Leonardo DiCaprio's an Apple fan. The actor is reportedly a favorite pick for the role of Steve Jobs in an upcoming biopic about the deceased Apple co-founder that's coming from Sony Pictures.


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Worldwide server revenue grew 5.2 per cent in the third quarter of 2011, but declined for Hewlett-Packard Co., Gartner Inc. said in a report on server sales during the quarter that ended Sept. 30.
In this same quarter, IBM Corp.’s revenue share of the worldwide server market reached $3.85 billion, a 3.5 per cent increase from a year ago. That gave it 29.7 per cent of the worldwide market, nudging it ahead of HP for the top spot.
HP’s server revenue, just over $3.8 billion, declined 3.6 per cent from a year ago, leaving it with 29.3 per cent of the world’s market, according to Gartner. Third-place Dell Inc., meanwhile, grew 6.3 per cent in server revenue during the period to more than $1.9 billion; it now has 14.7 per cent share of the worldwide market.
Meg Whitman, the former CEO of eBay who was appointed in September as HP’s new CEO, told financial analysts last week that HP needs “be simpler, clearer, and more consistent — no more surprises.”
Whitman cited the importance of innovation in selling products. Pointing to HP’s recent introduction of low-energy servers, Whitman said the company is increasing its investment in research and development.
HP has been hurt by Oracle Corp.’s decision to discontinue software development on the Itanium processor, the company acknowledged.
“Our ability to close deals has been impacted by Oracle’s Itanium decision,” said HP’s CFO, Cathie Lesjak, said during last week’s call.
Gartner said that RISC-based systems and Itanium servers declined 6.8 per cent worldwide, but vendors overall saw revenues increase 3.5 per cent. Oracle, which picked up Sun Microsystems’ SPARC line, was in fourth place in revenue on Gartner’s list, with nearly $764 million in server revenue. It had 6.2 per cent of the market, unchanged from a year ago.
When measured by server shipments, HP saw a 3.1 per cent decline in the third quarter to 693,265 shipments. It remains the leader in that category, followed by Dell, which increased shipments by 3.2 per cent, to 517,867, and IBM, which saw no percentage change in shipments. IBM had 287,507 shipments, according to Gartner.
Market share as measured by shipments put HP at 29.2 per cent of the market, Dell, 21.8 per cent and IBM, 12.1 per cent, Gartner said.
In Western Europe, beset by a financial crisis, server sales fell nearly 5 per cent; that decline was offset by gains in other regions, including in Eastern Europe.


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Thanks to the pandemic and social distancing, this year’s Fourth of July celebration was a bit subdued. Because local officials wanted the public to maintain proper social distancing guidelines, massive displays of fireworks where crowds usually gather to celebrate the Fourth, were canceled. But if you looked up in the Columbia sky on the Fourth of July, you probably saw and heard lots of celebrating.
People wanted to have a celebration regardless of the pandemic and according to John Casey, fourth generation owner of Casey’s Fireworks on Rosewood Drive, “Our sales this year were the best we’ve had in a very long time. The shelves were empty, especially the big exploding items. We were packed with people as early as July 1 and 2.”
So I guess you’d say fireworks sales really, “blew up” this year. Sorry, I had to get in a dad joke on that bit of information.
But seriously, Casey’s Fireworks on Rosewood has been a mainstay for fireworks in the Columbia area for over 70 years. As Casey explained, “My grandfather even took a case to the S.C. supreme court about the sale of fireworks in South Carolina and won. Without him and the case, we might not have been able to sell them in South Carolina and maybe other places as well.”
Casey’s Fireworks store is not the typical fireworks stand that pop sup around the Fourth of July and New Year’s eve.
“We’ve designed the store to make it as easy as possible for our customers to find what they’re looking for,” said Casey about the location on Rosewood Drive. “The floors are color-coded, with different colors representing the many different types of fireworks we offer. When you walk in the store, you immediately notice the colors that define the type of fireworks you can buy. This makes it very easy for someone with their children to find the safest and child-friendly or even pet-friendly fireworks. Or a customer can go straight to the area where they can find fireworks where the explosion will be bigger and would require adult supervision. Safety is our number one priority for our customers.”
Casey’s Fireworks store is open all year and not just for holidays.
Casey added, “We’ve been here providing fireworks for 70 years, and we have many loyal customers who come back year after year. This year, because of the pandemic, we had many, many new customers come in and buy fireworks. They wanted to celebrate with their friends, neighborhoods, and families. They bought everything we had.”
The coronavirus has changed many “normal” activities in our lives, but for many people here in the Midlands, the pandemic couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm for celebrating our nation’s birthday. For John Casey and Casey’s Fireworks, the “new normal” proved to be very positive for his business.
As he said, “We hope this pandemic goes away soon, but we also hope people remember their great experience here at Casey’s and come back to see us again and again.”


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SAN ANTONIO — H-E-B will open a second full-service convenience store in Northwest San Antonio that includes a gas station, car wash and Wendy's restaurant, reported the San Antonio Express-News. The $2.7-million, 7,416-square-foot location is planned for the corner of Bandera Road and Loop 1604, according to building permits and Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filings.
The store is approximately 60 percent of the size of H-E-B's smallest grocery store, a South Flores Market H-E-B in downtown San Antonio.
With this new convenience store, H-E-B will enter a competitive c-store market on San Antonio's North Side, where the Corner Store chain has been aggressively expanding and Circle K and Stripes have begun adding locations.
H-E-B often has kiosks near its gas stations, but few full-service convenience stores. Currently, H-E-B operates eight c-stores, two of which are on San Antonio's South Side, said H-E-B spokeswoman Dya Campos.
Details of the new c-store's design and construction schedule have not yet been set, Campos said.
H-E-B has more than 370 stores in Texas and Mexico.


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More and more Americans spend much of their day selling — not just products, but ideas and plans. Here’s a look at how wide-ranging it is and how each of us could do it better, from Daniel Pink’s new book, “To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others.’’
We have more salespeople than factory workers That's not all. One in nine American workers sells products. Our sales force outnumbers the federal workforce 5 to 1. By 2020, there will be 2 million more sales jobs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts.istockphoto
A mass skiing competition in Russia, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the Northern Lights glow over Finland, former congressman John Dingell’s funeral in Washington and more images from around the world.


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In these times of a slowdown, when major automotive companies are reviewing expansion plans, the Renault-Nissan alliance in India is going whole hog with its expansion plans.
With Nissan exports clocking over one lakh units per annum and Renault's Duster attracting strong demand from the market, ET has learnt that Renault-Nissan Alliance, which was planning to utilise 4 lakh units capacity by 2015, is expected to be ahead of its plans by one year and is planning to add another 3 lakh units capacity for its entry level cars (Nissan) Datsun (Codenamed K2 and i2) and Renault (A Entry), which will entail an additional investment of Rs 1,500-2,000 crore.
The decision on expansion is likely to be taken in the second half of this year. The company is already in negotiations with the several state governments, including Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. People close to the development say Renault-Nissan alliance is planning to produce 15-17 models by 2016-17.
"With mass volume models like Datsun from Nissan and A-Entry from Renault planned in the next couple of years, Franco-Japanese alliance would need additional capacity. The likelihood of alliance expanding in Oragadam, near Chennai, are more as it already have an established set up, but it are also exploring Gujarat, which too has a good port facility for exports," said one of three people in the know of the development.
Last year, the partners created an additional 2 lakh units per annum production line to churn out more models in the future, which took the overall annual capacity to 4 lakh units.
Toshihiko Sano, MD, Renault Nissan Automotive India, declined to divulge specific information on investment or timelines, but told ET, "We have already set up two manufacturing lines for our existing products. We will have to set up new line for entry-level cars. The decision on the additional line will be taken later this year."
The Renault-Nissan partnership is currently building a casting and machining shop, which will help the company move from engine assembly to engine manufacturing. This will increase the localisation content to 75 per cent.
The Renault-Nissan alliance is aiming for 90 per cent localisation, going ahead. And it has, in fact, invited vendors to set up shop in Chennai to reduce the logistic cost.
"Already 40 of out key vendors have set up shop at Chennai, which has helped us reduce cost by 5-15 per cent depending on the components," added Sano. The JV structure, which was originally envisaged to be 50:50, had to be changed, as Renault had decided to go slow on its India investment, due to the global recession.
ET learns that the final share of Renault's investment is 30 per cent and Nissan has invested a major share of 70 per cent. The decision, which was taken in 2010, saw Nissan having a larger focus on manufacturing in India, Renault will focus its investments in the plant in Morocco.
Sano is non-committal on sharing future investments and ratio of money to be invested by Renault and Nissan. "It could be 50:50 or it could be 40:60 or even 30:70, I am not sure. The proportion of investment between Renault and Nissan is still being decided by the board," added Sano.
Nissan has already announced its targets of achieving 10 per cent market share in India and it plans to launch multiple new products over the next three years and Renault, too, is planning to introduce an entry-level car and a people mover MPV.
Toshiyuki Shiga, COO, Nissan Motor Company, said: "India has a very important and strategic role in the Nissan's global strategy of Power 88. We are preparing to introduce Datsun in India by 2014. We want to be a major player and in order to achieve our target; we will be launching 10 new products in the next three years."
While Nissan already exports over one lakh unit of Micra and Sunny to Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Renault, too, would be boosting its exports of Duster to other right-hand drive markets beyond the UK and Ireland, which it is currently exporting.
India is still very small speck in the global scheme of things for Renault Nissan Alliance which sold over 8 million units in 2012. India constitutes a mere 1 per cent of the alliance partner's total production; compare that to Russia which is 30.6 per cent, China's 6.6 per cent and Brazil's 9.5 per cent. However, Sano says for Nissan alone, India could contribute over 0.4 to 0.5 million production in Power 88 target for 2016 and Renault an additional few hundred thousand units by then.
Experts say it is a very ambitious task. Nissan has its own share of challenges in the domestic market of getting its marketing company Hover Automotives performance right and for Renault which has got Duster off to a good start to make other products of its portfolio deliver sizeable numbers.
"The Franco-Japanese alliance are leveraging India's cost competitive base for exports very well, but both Renault and Nissan should get their domestic marketing strategy right individually. Renault's Duster has proved if you launch a right product even in difficult environment you can succeed. Renault and Nissan will have to penetrate deeper and bring right products delivering more than the competition to achieve this tall ask," said an automotive consultant, who did not wish to be named. Renault-Nissan plans to expand production capacity Page - 2| ZigWheels.com


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Hearst, the publisher of Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Elle and Esquire, appears to be one of the few major print publishers with magazine launch plans for 2016.
“We have several new print magazine concepts, all developed in partnership with other companies, extensively researched in 2015, ready for possible testing in 2016,” Hearst Magazines President David Carey said in a Christmas Eve letter distributed to 10,000 worldwide employees.
However, only one will get the green light to launch in print while several digital publications with lower overhead costs could debut as well, according to insiders.
The company will use the joint venture formula that it employed to produce O, the Oprah Magazine and, more recently, the Food Network Magazine and Dr. Oz the Good Life.
Hearst has reportedly been working with room-rental site Airbnb, which a year ago published its own travel magazine, titled Pineapple. There has been no indication that the Airbnb project will be the one getting the green light.
Carey also said print and digital operations “had a very strong year, with profits that beat 2014’s (and even surpassed 2007’s, the last industry high point) — quite a statement considering the significant shifts in the marketplace.”
He said that digital operations now account for more than 30 percent of the publisher’s profits.
“That’s not to say 2015 was a walk in the park; in fact, I’ve never seen a more disruptive period in the broader media industry, with every sector being transformed: newspapers, music, books, magazines, advertising agencies and now television,” he said.


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According to a report from Bloomberg, PlayStation 4 console production has been extended due to continued PS5 shortages.
It’s been more than a year since both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X were released in stores. However, despite this, stock issues are still a worldwide problem as many gamers struggle to buy a new-gen console.
As a result of the ongoing stock shortages, it is reported that Sony will continue to produce PlayStation 4 consoles while the new generation tries to keep up with demand. It was expected that Sony would cease production of the PS4 at the end of 2021. However, that no longer seems to be the case.
Demand still cannot be met
According to the Bloomberg report, the production of around one million PlayStation 4 consoles will extend throughout 2022. In my opinion, this is a wise move by Sony. For example, there might be Xbox players wanting to make the jump for the likes of Horizon Forbidden West, God of War Ragnarok or Gran Turismo 7 on the PS5.
Unfortunately, these potential PS5 gamers could be holding out for quite some time. Yet, when you consider that most upcoming PlayStation exclusives will be available on both PS4 and PS5, Sony might be able to shift plenty of last-gen consoles until new-gen demand can be met.
At least its a solution
When Sony was contacted to comment on the reports, a spokesperson confirmed that PlayStation 4 console production will continue this year. So, if you’re one of those gamers waiting in the shadows, at least you won’t miss out on Sony’s upcoming big hitters.
Will you be playing this year’s Sony exclusives on the PlayStation 4 due to PS5 shortages? Let us know across our social media channels.
Do not forget you can find great games and more on the GameByte Shop! Our store is stocked up with the latest games, merch, and accessories. We might even have a new-gen console or two! Sign up to our newsletter to be notified of our console drops, deals and more. Please note that the GameByte Shop is available for UK customers Credit only.
Featured Image Credit: Sony


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Apollo Tyres, a leading tyre manufacturing company has announced the launch of the Digital Innovation Hub in the region of London, UK. As a part of the digital strategy of the company for the purpose of implementing the industry 4.0, the new Innovation Hub is going to used artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies for the purpose of solving the complex manufacturing problems, which are focused on improving the efficiency, sustainability and quality of the manufacturing practices of the company.
This new Digital Innovation Hub is partnering with the Glasgow University and it is also implementing internship programme for the students of science, technology, math and engineering as a part of the strategy of UK government.
Neeraj Kanwar, vice chairman and managing director of Apollo Tyres Ltd. said, the London office of Apollo Tyres has been the nerve center of a global organization of 2.5 billion dollars that is impacting around 20,000 employees across the world. They also have more than 130 employees across six business organizations that are ranging from the advanced manufacturing, along with the new technologies, digital freight and artificial intelligence in the United Kingdom alone.
He also said, they have also invested 5 million pounds in the Digital Innovation Hub has is also expected for giving a fillip to the digitalization journey of the company along with several other investments in the data and cloud computing. This Digital Innovation Hub has been a result of the five-year growth plan of Apollo Tyres that is involving the significant investment in the technology and cloud infrastructure.


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Telecom operators in the UAE stand to gain an additional $3.3 billion (Dh12.1bn) in revenues by 2026, with manufacturing presenting the biggest opportunity, according to a report from Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson.
“Digital transformation is taking place in almost every industry, disrupting and creating new business models, and 5G is an enabler of this transformation,” said Rafiah Ibrahim, head of Ericsson Middle East and Africa on Tuesday.
Expanded mobile platforms developed by technology and telecom companies in the region are already enabling service providers to capture opportunities from digitalisation, “while addressing the explosive traffic growth expected in the 5G evolution”, he added.
5G is the name used to describe the fifth generation of cellular mobile communications, which is poised to transform data capture, underpinning the Internet of Things - a catch-all term for products and services connected to the web to capture and share data - by connecting at a much faster rate.
The technology will enable digitalisation of 10 industries in particular - agriculture, manufacturing, energy and utilities, public safety, health care, public transport, media and entertainment, automotive, financial services and retail – Ericsson said in its "guide to capturing the 5G industry digitalisation business potential" study.
This will generate $619bn of revenues by 2026, led by the manufacturing sector which will account for $113bn of global revenues from digitalisation, and energy and utilities with $101bn.
In the UAE, industry growth potential is also driven by the digitalisation of manufacturing, which is expected to contribute 18 per cent of potential revenues by 2026. This is followed by energy and utilities with 16 per cent and public safety with 12.5 per cent, according to Ericsson.
UAE mobile operators will see the most revenue potential from real-time automation, which offers a potential $530 million of additional revenues by 2026 as automated services like mobile messaging and user data analytics is adopted at a rate of 133 per cent per year between 2020 and 2024 and will continue to rise steadily after that, the report said.
Other revenue potential will come from enhanced video services, bringing in $510m, and monitoring and tracking with $380m.


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When Apple launched the first iPod 14 years ago on October 23, 2001, very few imagined the impact it would create in the way we consume music. For all the hate Apple receives today by dedicated groups out there, even they would have to agree that back then when Apple said it would come out with something revolutionary, it meant it.
The iPod was perhaps one of the best inventions of the 21st century. The device literally changed the way we listen to music and single-handedly dethroned the traditional Walkman and CD player. 13 years later, on September 9, 2014, Apple quietly decided to kill the classic iPod.
The sixth generation 160GB iPod Classic was the last [...]


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Microsoft is flirting with the idea of a digital trade-in scheme that would let Xbox owners "sell back" their digital purchases for a slice of store credit.
As spotted on NeoGAF, a recent Xbox customer survey asked if console owners would be interested in trading in digital games for 10 percent of the purchase price.
So, if you picked up a digital release for $60, you'd get $6 back in store credit to put towards another purchase.
Although users on NeoGAF seem receptive to the idea in general, most admit they're put off by that 10 percent figure.
Other questions in the same survey asked participants what they dislike most about digital titles, and how often they share their games with others, further implying Microsoft is interested in making its online store a more appealing proposition.


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Today, Apple told judge Paul S. Grewald that they would like to add the Galaxy Note 10.1 to its ongoing lawsuit against Samsung. Apple is also trying to add Android 4.1 “Jelly Bean” to the current lawsuit. These additions come just a couple months after Apple filed complaints against the original Galaxy Note and Galaxy S III in the United States. The addition of Jelly Bean to the list could show that Apple may be attempting to start a full scale lawsuit against Google, something that hasn’t happened yet. This case is set to go on trial in 2014. Hurrah!
It’s worth noting that this case isn’t the same as the Apple vs. Samsung trial that took place over the summer, though this patent suit is under the purview of Lucy Koh, the same judge who oversaw the previous case that saw Apple take home a cool $1.05 billion dollars for its efforts.
Samsung also has an ongoing lawsuit against Apple as Apple is apparently violating UTMS patents that are owned by Samsung. Obviously Samsung added the iPhone 5 to the case early last month, because why not…
Anyone else tired of this crap? Honestly? It seems like it’s never going to end. Personally, we’d prefer if this garbage ended sooner rather than later. We’re tired of playing lawyer-blogger with this junk.


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A survey by Dutch pet food supplier Prins Petfoods and the Dobey/Faunaland chain of more than 4,500 pet owners found that pet stores remain the principal distribution channel for dog and cat food in the Netherlands.
According to the survey, more than 62 percent of cat owners and nearly three-quarters of all dog owners buy their petfood in pet stores. Thirty percent of cat owners and 8 percent of dog owners get petfood from the supermarket, while 20 percent of cat owners and 16 percent of dog owners purchase petfood online.
By Leah Wilkinson
A new year brings new opportunities and excitement, and 2023 is bound to be the same, with several chances for advancing policy issues of importance to the U.S. animal food industry.
By Lindsay Beaton